சந்திரன் பிறை பார்த்தேன் ! ~ Moondram Pirai !!

 

சந்திரன் பிறை பார்த்தேன் !  தோழி சந்திப்பு நிகழ்ந்ததடி!! 

19.2.2026 was Moonram Pirai – the Third Crescent !!  

 

In various spiritual and cultural contexts, the "Third Crescent" (the third day after the New Moon) is considered highly significant for its symbolism of growth, divine protection, and mental clarity  

அமாவாசைக்கு அடுத்த மூன்றாம் நாளில் தோன்றும் வளர்பிறை சந்திரன் (துவிதியை), 'மூன்றாம் பிறை' என வழிபடப்படுகிறது. இது சிவபெருமான் தன் தலையில் சூடியிருக்கும் வடிவம் என மிகவும் புனிதமாகக் கருதப்படுகிறது. இதை காண்பது சிவபெருமானின் சிரசையே (சந்திர மௌலீஸ்வரர்) தரிசிப்பதற்குச் சமம் என சிவபக்தர்கள் ஆனந்திக்கிறார்கள்.  .இதைத் தரிசிப்பது முற்பிறவி பாவங்களைப் போக்கி, வம்ச விருத்தி, செல்வச் செழிப்பு, மன அமைதி மற்றும் நீண்ட ஆயுளைத் தரும் என்பது நம்பிக்கை.  

The song at the start is from movie ‘Paalum  Pazhamum’ released in 1961 starring Sivaji Ganesan & Saroja devi, directed by A Bhimsingh.    The film was remade in Kannada as Beratha Jeeva,  in Hindi as Saathi, the latter was remade in Turkish as Yarım Kalan Saadet [tr] (1970). The film's title also became the name for a  pattern of silk saris.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
19/2/2026

'Poomazhai thoovi vasanthangal vaaztha – oorvalam nadakinrathu’

 

This song ‘Poomazhai thoovi vasanthangal vaaztha – oorvalam nadakinrathu’ – was a hit  - MGR would play instrument and sing this in ‘Ninaithathai Mudippavan’ (the man who concludes what he thinks) had MG Ramachandran in dual roles – this movie released in 1970s was a remake of blockbuster Hindi Film ‘Sachaa Jhutha’ starring Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna. Years later, came ‘Mazhalai pattalam’ – a nice movie of Mouli came, it was directed by Lakshmi ….it was a story of persons with children marrying and the problems of  bringing up so many children… a car played a significant role in that film……. 

All that is about ‘Jhanvasam’ ……. Popular ritualistic occurrence in South Indian (or is that restricted to Tamilians only !) - equivalent of a North Indian Baraat. Understand that in good olden days, marriage alliance would often outside village – bridegroom would be taken around in a chariot in procession from the place of his stay to the marriage hall………… by some accounts, it was an introduction of groom to the elders of the village and also by parading, people could voice their opinion on the groom … which many a times lead to trouble too…

 

A jhanvasa oorvalam in Triplicane yesterday !!  How well do you remember your jhanvasam and what would be your reaction, if it happened to get delayed or was to be by a closed Car !!!

 

20.2.2026

Elite multi-sports athletes : MJ Gopalan to Zach Lion-Cachet

 

Even their worst detractors would not  have possibly predicted Australia would be in this   position.  Tomorrow they play an insignificant match against Oman, when everything else is settled and T20WC would move to next phase.  After a nightmarish week, having been soundly beaten by Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, Australia's T20 World Cup dreams are over in the blink of an eye.  For the first time since 2009, Australia have been knocked out at the group stage but, instead of flying home,    they have the ignominy of having to front up against Oman in a match with very little meaning.  

Some interesting Tidbits of Cricket thanks to a Cricket Q on FB by Mr.  R Balasundaram that led to more searches on Cricket and finding something quite interesting ! (for me)

 

Unlikely that we would have followed up the career of Sam Smith, who was British No.1 female Tennis star in 90s – she retired and took up broadcasting as Career.  She worked for BBC Sport in Summer Olympics providing commentary not only on Tennis but also on Badminton and Table Tennis.

 

Today’s Cric Q of Bala read :   

1) X was an international rugby player for country A

2) Y was a tennis star who for a brief period was ranked No.1 in country B

3) X and Y met in country B and married

4) One of their sons, Z chose cricket over rugby and tennis and played in the ongoing ICC World Cup for country A.

Identify Z. 

Knowing Bala, my searches first zeroed on recent matches, possible Rugby Nations .. and the like. 

 

In their most recent cricket encounter, India defeated the Netherlands by 17 runs on February 18, 2026,   in Ahmedabad.  India posted a total of 193/6, powered by   Shivam Dube’s soaring sixers in his knock of  66 off 31 balls. The Netherlands fought back and were closer but lost eventually finishing 176/7.

 

The answer is a player from Nederlands -  Zach Lion-Cachet, who hit a quickfire 26 in 16 balls.   Born in Dec 2003, Zach has a diverse skill set and lineage.   From  Oxford, England, he quickly became a key figure in the Dutch national team, particularly noted for his   performances under pressure. His father, Marc Lion-Cachet, was an international rugby player who represented the Netherlands. His mother, Sam Smith, was a professional tennis star who reached a career-high ranking of British No. 1   in the late 1990s. His parents met in the United Kingdom   where his father played rugby and his mother competed in tennis. Although Zach was part of the Southampton FC football academy until age 16, he ultimately chose to pursue cricket over his parents' sports.  

Samantha Smith   who was the British ladies' No. 1 from 1996 to 1999  now commentates on the game, predominantly for the BBC, ITV, Sky Sports, BT Sport, Eurosport & more,    for 17 consecutive years   

Lion-Cachet follows a long tradition of "double internationals" or elite multi-sport athletes in cricket:

•       Ellyse Perry (Australia): The only player to have played in both a Cricket World Cup and a FIFA Women's World Cup (scoring for Australia in the 2011 football tournament).

•       Jeff Wilson (New Zealand): Known as "Goldie," he won 60 caps for the All Blacks in rugby and played 6 ODIs for New Zealand in cricket.

•       Suzie Bates (New Zealand): A legendary cricketer who also represented New Zealand in basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

•       Jonty Rhodes (South Africa): Famous for his fielding, he was also an international-level hockey player selected for the 1992 Olympic squad.

•       Yuzvendra Chahal (India): The only player to represent India in both international cricket and World Youth Chess Championships.

•       Rudie van Vuuren (Namibia): Achieved the rare feat of playing in both the Cricket World Cup and the Rugby World Cup in the same year (2003).

 

Then there is the legendary Triplicanite [many of us would have seen him in marriages and in Temple] Morapakkam Josyam Gopalan, (MJ Gopalan),   an iconic personality, India's most famous "Double International"  representing the country in both cricket and hockey.   His career is defined by a legendary "what if" moment in 1936, when he had to choose between two major international tours happening simultaneously.  When he was a  virtual certainty for the Indian hockey team for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he chose Cricket went on to tour England but was not picked up for a single test.  Ironically, the hockey team, led by Dhyan Chand, went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal.  

On November 4, 1934, he earned the distinction of bowling the first-ever delivery in the history of the Ranji Trophy, playing for Madras against Mysore.   He played his only Test match against England in 1934 at Calcutta. He was a stalwart of Madras (now Tamil Nadu) cricket, taking 194 first-class wickets and scoring nearly 3,000 runs.  A world-class centre-half, he toured New Zealand and Australia with the Indian hockey team in 1935, playing in 39 of the 48 matches.  Once regularly held annual first class match between Tamil Nadu and Ceylon (Sri lanka) was named after him as : M.J. Gopalan Trophy.   

 

Interesting !

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar

19.2.2026

 

Sun ~ கதிரவன் எழுந்தான் .. .. பரம்பொருள் நாமம் பாடி பறந்தன புள்ளினம்.

 

கதிரவன் எழுந்தான் கனையிருள் அகன்றது

கடல் அலை மீது நடந்தது காற்று

பரம்பொருள் நாமம் பாடி பறந்தன புள்ளினம்........

 

அன்பு எனும் ஒரு மந்திரம் போதும்;  ஆருயிர் எல்லாம் ஓருயிர் ஆகும்

வானம் நிலம் யாவும் தேவன் அருள் மேவும்.. ..

 

An early morning picture of Sun, clouds, waves of Bay of Bengal and people .. .. on a Masi Magam day few years ago !! 

பண்டைக்கால  வானியல் அறிவில் ஞாயிறும் திங்களும் ஒரு முக்கிய இடத்தைப் பிடித்திருந்தன. இரண்டும் காலத்தைக் கணக்கிடுவதிலும், வாழ்வின் சுழற்சியைப் புரிந்துகொள்வதிலும் அடிப்படை அலகுகளாகப் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டன. ஞாயிறு (சூரியன்) காலத்தின் தொடக்கமாகவும், நாளின் அடையாளமாகவும், பருவ கால மாற்றங்களுக்குக் காரணமாகவும் இலக்கியங்களில் போற்றப்படுகிறது. புறநானூற்றுப் பாடல்கள் ஞாயிற்றை உலகின் ஆதாரமாகப் போற்றுகின்றன.  பெரும் பொழுதுகளான கார், கூதிர், முன்பனி, பெரும்பனி, இளவேனில், முதுவேனில் ஆகியவை ஞாயிற்றின் தெற்கு, வடக்கு நோக்கிய இயக்கங்களாலும், அதன் ஒளிக்கதிர்களின் தீவிரத்தாலும் ஏற்படும் மாற்றங்களை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டவையே.  

சங்க இலக்கியத்தில் கதிரவன் (ஞாயிறு) இயற்கையின் அங்கமாகவும், காலத்தைக் காட்டும் குறியீடாகவும், உவமையாகவும், கோள வடிவிலும் சித்தரிக்கப்படுகிறான். செஞ்ஞாயிற்றுத் தெறல் (மிகுந்த வெப்பம்) உடையவனாகவும், மாலையில் மலைக்குச் சென்று மறைபவனாகவும், நிலத்தில் உயிர்களை வாழவைப்பவனாகவும், மன்னர்களின் புகழுக்கு இணையாகவும் கதிரவன் பாடல்களில் போற்றப்படுகிறான். 

The song at the start written by Kavignar Vali, set to the tune of Isaignani Illayaraja featured in movie “Sri Raghavendra” – Rajnikanth’s 100^th film, directed by SP Muthuraman, produced by Kavithalaya.    

The Sun is the star at the heart of our solar system. Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything — from the biggest planets to the smallest bits of debris — in its orbit.  The Sun, as the source of energy and light for life on Earth, has been a central object in culture and religion since prehistory.  The Sun has many names in many cultures. The Latin word for Sun is “sol,” which is the main adjective for all things Sun-related: solar. 

The sun is revered globally as a primary symbol of life, power, and divinity, often worshipped as a creator god or celestial ruler. Cultures, including Egyptians (Ra), Greeks (Helios/Apollo), Hindus (Surya), and Incas (Inti), historically personified it as a radiant deity controlling life, agriculture, and cosmic order. In Aztec culture, the sun was worshipped as the vital, life-giving deity Tonatiuh (or Huitzilopochtli), viewed as a warrior battling daily against darkness to bring light. As the "People of the Sun," the Aztecs believed constant human sacrifice was required to nourish him and prevent the apocalypse, following the belief that they lived in the final, fifth era.  In Mesoamerican culture, Tonatiuh ("Movement of the Sun") is an Aztec sun deity of the daytime sky who rules the cardinal direction of east.  According to Aztec mythology, Tonatiuh was known as "The Fifth Sun" and was given a calendar name of naui olin, which means "4 Movement

 

Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
19.2.2026